Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘Dark Side of the Power Rangers’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Hollywood Demons’ delves deep into the dark and unknown off-screen world of the cast members behind the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Amidst all the crimes and scandals that are covered in the documentary, the case of Jason David Frank’s death by suicide stands out. His unexpected death rocked the entire industry and sent his wife of nearly decades, Tammie Frank, into shock. In the episode, she talks about her side of the story and how she managed to cope with the pain left by Jason’s demise.
Tammie Frank Was Subjected to a Lot of Criticism For the Death of Her Husband
On June 16, 1973, Tammie Christine McNabb was born in Harris County, Texas, instantly becoming the apple of her parents’ eyes. At the age of 18, she reportedly married Scott Dingas, a union that lasted for three years. One month after the divorce, she tied the knot with Jeremy Blake Bergeron in September 1994. Unfortunately, even her second marriage couldn’t stand the test of time, as they parted ways even before their first anniversary. Several years later, she crossed paths with ‘Power Ranger’ star Jason David Frank, also known as JDF. Given their mutual love and respect for one another, they got married in May 2003, surrounded by their loved ones. Over the course of their marriage, the couple gave birth to a daughter named Jenna Frank.
In 2021, Tammie tragically lost Shayla Frank, one of her daughters from a previous relationship. As per reports, in 2022, she filed for divorce due to the alleged deterioration of their marriage. However, on November 19, 2022, her entire world turned upside down when her husband, Jason, took his life. In order to set the record straight, she opened up about the tragedy in an interview with People after the tragedy. She said, “…It has shocked and saddened me beyond belief to see that the media has turned my family’s tragedy into a tall tale. Since Jason’s death, I have been harassed online and can no longer stand to watch my husband’s good name slandered.”
Claiming that they had reconciled their relationship about six weeks prior to his death, Tammie claimed that she was unaware his mental health and depression had worsened that much. Elaborating on the situation, she explained that the loss of Shayla took a toll on the family. “Between losing her and helping raise her baby son, Jason and I started having marital issues. For anyone who has known the pain of losing a child, I know you understand how such a loss changes things in your marriage,” she said. According to her, they were in the middle of a weekend getaway when he died as they planned to reignite the flame between them. To conclude, she requested the public to let the family grieve the loss peacefully and sympathize with the situation.
Tammie Frank is a Doting Mother and Grandmother Today
Not long after the demise of Jason David Frank, Tammie Frank launched a non-profit organization called Jason David Frank’s Be a Legend to change the stigma around mental health. She showcases her devotion to her late husband through the organization. Moreover, she is a doting mother to several children, especially Jenna Frank. Besides Jenna and the late Shayla, she is a mother to three other children from other relationships — Jacob, Hunter, and Skye. She has also been raising Shayla’s son, Drayden.
The black-belt martial artist, certified Muay Thai trainer, and Kru under the MTIA (Muay Thai International Association), Tammie made an appearance on ‘The Legacy of Nerd’ in June 2024 and talked in length about various topics, including mental health, her late husband, and eldest daughter. In early July of the same year, she launched her very own podcast called ‘Be a Legend’ and has been striving to make it one of the best podcasts in the world. The following month, she and her daughter Jenna visited California, where the former spent a couple of months taking part in a couple of events. Not only did Tammie speak at the Promise 2 Live Gala Celebration, but she also participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk in Santa Monica in order “to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention.”
On Jason’s second death anniversary, Tammie took to social media and expressed how much she misses him. She said, “Today is the second anniversary of my husbands passing and honestly I just can’t believe it. You realize #grief never truly leaves. My purpose is to honor him by not being silent with his #truth and #struggles.” Residing in the neighborhood of Kingwood in Houston, Texas, the single mother also seems to be working on a book at the moment, seemingly based on her life and the struggles she has faced over the years.
Read More: Matthew Sterling: Where is Jason David Frank’s Attacker Now?
